The morning air in the Kancherla household was thick with the scent of burning incense and fresh jasmine.

Lakshmi began the morning pooja (prayer ritual), the rhythmic ringing of the ganta (prayer bell) echoing through the halls, signaling a peaceful start to the day. Divya stood devoutly beside her mother, her hands folded in prayer, while her father sat on the sofa nearby, hidden behind the morning newspaper.

Once the prayers were complete, Lakshmi turned to her daughter with a warm smile. "Divya, ila raa. Ee prasadam Syamala atthayya valla intlo icchesi raa," (Divya, come here. Go give this offering at Aunt Syamala’s house) she said, handing over a box of freshly made, delicious ravva laddus.

"Sare Amma," (Okay, Mom) Divya replied. She took the box and walked over to the house right next door.

"Atthayya!" (Auntie!) Divya called out as she stepped inside. She headed straight for the kitchen to look for Syamala, but the room appeared empty. She set the box down on the counter and turned to leave, only to let out a startled yelp.

"Ahh!"

Arjun was standing right behind her, much too close, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. Heart racing, Divya instinctively placed her hands on his chest to create space. "Rey, bayapedthav entra?" (Hey, why are you scaring me?) she whispered-yelled, playfully hitting his chest.

Arjun didn't budge. Instead, he leaned in, trapping her by placing both hands on the cabinet behind her.

"Arjun, move," she pleaded, her cheeks turning a soft pink.

"No," he teased, his eyes locked on hers.

"Divya?" Syamala’s voice drifted in from the hallway.

In a panic, Divya hurriedly pushed Arjun away just seconds before Syamala entered the kitchen. Divya tried to look natural, pointing toward the counter. "Atthayya, Amma prasadam ivvamani cheppindhi," (Auntie, Mom told me to give you this offering) she said, showing her the box.

"Ee roju em prasadam chesindhi Amma?" (What offering did your mother make today?) Syamala asked curiously. She picked up a laddu and took a bite, closing her eyes in delight. "Hmm... there is magic in Vadhina’s (sister-in-law's) hands."

Munching on the sweet, Syamala grabbed two more laddus and wandered back out of the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone again.

Divya breathed a sigh of relief and tried to bolt for the door, but Arjun was faster. He caught her hand and pulled her back toward him.

"Mari naaku laddu?" (What about a laddu for me?) he asked softly, his voice dropping an octave.

Divya looked at the box, grabbed a laddu, and playfully shoved the whole thing into his mouth. While he was busy struggling to chew, she let out a quiet laugh and ran out of the house.

Arjun stood there, leaning against the counter and chewing the sweet, a genuine smile spreading across his face. They had loved each other since their school days.

Divya was a shy introvert—a quality that had always pulled Arjun toward her like a magnet. Even back in college, when they studied together, it had taken him six persistent months of chasing her before she finally said "yes" to his proposal.

To the world, they were just neighbors, but in these quiet morning moments, they were everything to each other.

Meanwhile, on the fourth floor of the villa, Devarsh stepped out of the private gym. His physique was sharp, his abs glistening with sweat after an intense morning workout. He moved with a disciplined silence, heading straight for a cold shower before dressing in a crisp, charcoal-grey three-piece suit that screamed power.

He descended the stairs with a heavy, rhythmic stride. In the dining area, he saw his father, Rama Krishna, and his mother, Syamala, deep in conversation.

"Good morning, Mom and Dad," Devarsh said, his voice deep and formal. He took his usual seat at the head of the table and began his breakfast with mechanical precision.

Syamala looked at her eldest son, her eyes filled with a mother’s hope. "Dev, nuvvu pelli cheskovali (Dev, you should get married). Nenu neeku oka photo pampanu... (I sent you a picture...)"

Devarsh didn't even look up from his plate, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Ma, naaku ippude pelli cheskovadam ishtam ledhu," (Ma, I don’t want to get married right now). He spoke with a finality that suggested his word was law.

At the other end of the table, Arjun’s face fell. He knew that as long as his elder brother refused to marry, the family would never even consider looking at proposals for him—which meant his secret future with Divya was stuck in limbo.

Devarsh wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up, his towering presence filling the room. He turned his sharp gaze toward his younger brother.

"Nalubhai nimishallo office lo undali ," (Come to the office in 40 minutes), he commanded Arjun.

Arjun simply nodded, not daring to argue with the "Lion of the House." Without another word, Devarsh strode out toward his car.

Syamala’s expression crumbled into disappointment. Rama Krishna gently placed a hand over hers, offering a silent, reassuring squeeze, knowing all too well that convincing their eldest son was like trying to move a mountain.

The morning sun began to shimmer over the waves of the Visakhapatnam sea, accompanied by the gentle chirping of birds. But inside a cozy apartment, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful.

Nidhi’s alarm blared for the fifth time. She had groggily snoozed the first four, but as she finally rubbed her eyes and squinted at the clock, her heart nearly stopped.

9:30 AM.

"Sairam! Sairam! Malli late ga lechana?" (Oh god, am I late again?) she shrieked, jumping out of bed. In her frantic rush toward the bathroom, she smacked her forehead against the doorframe. With a groan, she doubled back to grab her towel and vanished into the shower.

Ten minutes later, she emerged, dressed in a blur of fabric. She dashed into the kitchen, snatched a single slice of bread, and grabbed her bag. As she clumsily locked her door and sprinted toward the lift, she ran into her neighbor’s daughter, a cute little girl who lived in the opposite flat.

"Bye, Nidhi!" the girl called out with a giggle.

"Bye, bangaram!" Nidhi yelled back, blowing a frantic flying kiss as the lift doors closed.

"Ayyo, malli late aa?" (Oh no, late again?) the little girl laughed, watching her go.

Nidhi hopped onto her scooty and zipped through the Vizag traffic toward her college. She burst into the classroom, where her best friend, Savitha, was already waiting with an arched eyebrow.

"Ente, roju late ae naa?" (What is this, late every single day?) Savitha scolded.

"Neeku em theluse naa badha?" (What do you know of my struggle?) Nidhi replied, letting out a massive yawn. "Prashanthamga padukuni enni rojulu ayyindho thelusa?" (Do you know how many days it's been since I had a peaceful sleep?)

"Enthasepu padukune untav, malli padukoledhu antav ente?" (You’re always sleeping, yet you claim you never get enough sleep—how?) Savitha asked, shaking her head. Nidhi just gave her a cheeky, guilty smile.

Later, at the canteen over lunch, the conversation turned toward the upcoming trip. "Repu enni gantalaki train?" (What time is the train tomorrow?) Savitha asked.

"Tommorow morning 9 ki," (Tomorrow morning at 9) Nidhi confirmed between bites.

After classes, Nidhi headed back to her flat. Her phone began to buzz—a call from home. "Hi, Amma!"

"Hi chinnu, em chesthunnav?" (Hi darling, what are you doing?) Lakshmi’s voice came through the speaker.

"Ippude college nundi vacchanu, Amma," (I just got back from college, Mom) Nidhi replied. They chatted for a few minutes before Divya snatched the phone away.

"Ente kothi, em chesthunnav? Repu enni gantalaki train?" (Hey monkey, what are you doing? What time is your train tomorrow?) Divya asked eagerly.

The two sisters laughed and caught up, but Nidhi couldn't resist a little mischief. "Enti, bava garu em chesthunnaru mari?" (So, what is my brother-in-law up to?) she teased, referring to Arjun. Nidhi was the only one who knew their secret she had been their getaway driver and alibi for years.

"Eyy, Amma vintundhe!" (Hey, Mom is listening!) Divya hissed, quickly moving to another room.

"Ok, ok, sorry!" Nidhi laughed. After a long talk and a quick dinner, Nidhi finally collapsed into bed, the excitement of traveling home tomorrow finally putting her to sleep.

The sun had long set when Devarsh finally pulled his car into the driveway. The weight of the entire family business rested on his shoulders, and tonight, the burden felt heavier than usual. He bypassed the dinner table, offering only a brief nod to his parents, and headed straight for his room.

He collapsed onto his bed, still in his formal trousers, closing his eyes to let the silence of the room wash over his exhaustion. Just as he was about to drift off, his phone on the nightstand pinged.

He reached for it habitually, but as soon as he saw the notification, his posture relaxed. He unlocked the screen, and the harsh blue light illuminated a genuine, rare smile on his face.

All the tiredness from the boardroom meetings and the stress of the day evaporated in an instant.

It was a photo of a girl laughing in a crowded canteen, a stray strand of hair falling over her face, her eyes bright with mischief.

It was Nidhi.

Devarsh traced the edge of the screen with his thumb. To his parents, he was the stubborn son who refused every alliance. To Arjun, he was the strict elder brother who only cared about the office.

But for the last four years—ever since Nidhi moved to Vizag for her studies—Devarsh had been keeping a silent, watchful eye on her.

He didn't just love her; he was obsessed with her happiness from a distance. He had contacts who ensured she was safe, and he followed her life through the digital trail she left behind.

Every "no" he gave his mother regarding marriage was because his heart had already said "yes" to the girl in the photo years ago.

"Inka okka roju..." (Just one more day...) he whispered to the empty room. He knew she was taking the train tomorrow. He knew she was coming home.

He finally fell asleep, not out of exhaustion, but out of the quiet anticipation of seeing his nidhi again.

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Hey cuties.......

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